High Court Directs Delhi Govt To Install Advanced Cardiac Life Support Facility At Court Premises

The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to ensure that an Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) facility is installed in its premises before December 6.

A division bench comprising of Justice Manmohan and Justice Manpreet Pritam Singh also directed the Delhi Government to explore the possibility of either stationing ACLS ambulances in every District Court or allowing setting up of portable cabins for the same.

"The Delhi High Court Medical Committee as well as the Health Department of the Government of NCT of Delhi in consultation with the respective District Judges are directed to ensure that the entire staff in the District Courts is regularly sensitized about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines of compression-only life support ('COLS') for management of the victim with cardiopulmonary arrest and also about the use of Automated External Defibrillator ('AED')," the bench directed.

The Court also directed the Delhi Metro to explore the possibility of setting-up the facility at all major inter-change stations within a period of six weeks.

"Let an affidavit in this regard be filed before the next date of hearing," the Court said while listing the suo motu case, related to the lack of basic life support system at major railway stations, for hearing on December 6.

During the course of hearing on September 21, Delhi Government's counsel handed over to the court a recommendation of the Delhi High Court Medical Committee for setting-up ACLS facility in the High Court premises.

As the Committee's Chief Medical Officer, Kamal Jeet Singh Bansal submitted that there is some space available, the Bench asked the Committee to identify or earmark the said space within a period of two weeks.

As per a status report submitted by Registrar General of High Court last month, the Court was informed that ACLS facility is not available in Karkardooma, Dwarka, Rouse Avenue and Patiala House Courts.

The report added that Patiala House and Rohini Court do not have a physical infrastructure for setting up an ACLS Centre.

On the other hand, the report stated that Tis Hazari Court has one ACLS ambulance which is stationed daily to transport patient to nearby Delhi Government empanelled private hospitals.

Similarly, Rohini Court also has one Centralised Accident and Trauma (CAT) ambulance with essential equipments, a driver and one Emergency Medical Technician to provide 24 hours services.

Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

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